Molecular Plant Breeding 2025, Vol.16, No.2, 105-118 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/mpb 114 8 Practical Applications and Future Research Directions 8.1 Implications for breeding drought-tolerant rice The development of drought-tolerant rice is crucial for ensuring food security in regions facing water scarcity. The identification of drought-responsive genes and QTLs provides valuable genetic resources for breeding programs. For instance, the study on HuHan2B demonstrated the importance of DEGs in enhancing drought resistance through transcript regulation (Wei et al., 2016). Similarly, the identification of QTLs associated with drought tolerance traits in Vietnamese rice landraces highlights the potential for marker-assisted selection in breeding programs (Hoang et al., 2019). The introgression of elite alleles, such as those found in OsLG3, can significantly improve drought tolerance in rice (Xiong et al., 2018). Using CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology, specific genes in the rice genome can be precisely modified to cultivate rice varieties with enhanced drought resistance. The application of this technology not only improves the precision of breeding but also shortens the breeding cycle, providing strong support for the widespread promotion and application of drought-resistant rice. These findings underscore the importance of leveraging genetic diversity and advanced breeding techniques to develop drought-tolerant rice varieties. 8.2 Potential biotechnological applications Biotechnological approaches offer promising avenues for enhancing drought tolerance in rice. The use of transgenic techniques to overexpress drought-responsive genes, such as TFs and protein kinases, has shown potential in improving drought tolerance (Hadiarto and Tran, 2021). The identification of natural variations in promoter regions, as seen with OsLG3, can be exploited to develop transgenic lines with enhanced drought resistance (Xiong et al., 2018). Additionally, the use of GWAS and gene expression profiling can identify candidate genes and pathways involved in drought response, providing targets for genetic engineering (Gaballah et al., 2020; Hao et al., 2022). By using gene-editing technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9, researchers have successfully knocked out or modified key genes affecting rice yield and quality . By precisely regulating the synthesis and signaling pathways of plant hormones, scientists can cultivate rice varieties with higher yield and better quality. Meanwhile, using RNA interference technology, specific inhibition of pathogen gene expression can enhance rice resistance to certain fungal diseases. Through genetic engineering methods, scientists have successfully increased the content of certain important nutrients in rice, such as β-carotene (precursor of vitamin A) and iron. The integration of these biotechnological tools with traditional breeding methods can accelerate the development of drought-tolerant rice varieties. 8.3 Future research directions and emerging technologies Future research should focus on the following aspects to further improve our understanding and ability to breed drought-tolerant rice: study of the functional role of identified DEGs and QTLs in drought tolerance through gene knockout and overexpression (Solis et al., 2018), and explore the role of epigenetic modifications in regulating drought-responsive genes and their heritability. In terms of systems biology, systems biology methods are used to model the complex regulatory networks involved in drought response and identify key regulatory nodes, and CRISPR/Cas9 is used to enhance drought tolerance by introducing beneficial alleles and removing harmful alleles. Developing a high-throughput phenotyping platform to accurately measure drought tolerance traits and facilitate large-scale screening of populations for breeding (Gaballah et al., 2020). Combining climate models with breeding programs to predict the performance scenarios of drought-tolerant varieties in future climates (Yu et al., 2012). By addressing these research directions and leveraging emerging technologies, we can make significant progress in developing drought-tolerant rice to ensure sustainable rice production in the face of global climate change. 9 Concluding Remarks The research on transcriptional regulation and gene networks in rice under water deficit conditions has revealed several critical insights. Genome-wide analyses have identified significant MTAs specific to limited water conditions, highlighting genes such as OsOFP2, Dlf1, and OsMADS56 that are crucial for adaptation to water
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